Catharine Breese Livingston

Transcription

We fondly nurs'd an op'ning rose,
Watch'd o'er each beauty every day;
But ah! a withering blast arose
And swept our lovely flow'r away.

Background

Henry and Jane's youngest daughter Catharine Breese Livingston (named for Henry's oldest daughter, Catharine Livingston Breese, who died 1808), died Sep 13, 1814, at the age of 5. Family stories say that her death disturbed Henry so deeply that he would leave the room when her name was mentioned.

Letters from his son-in-law and granddaughter gave condolences on the child's death.

The year after Henry Livingston died, his eldest surviving son, Charles, reused the poem on the gravestone of his 2 yr 4 mo old daughter, Eliza Brewer Livingston.

In memory of
Eliza Brewer
daughter of
Doct. C. P. Livingston
who died
Sept. 7th 1829
aged 2 years;4 months

We fondly nurs'd a lovely rose
Watch'd o'er its beauties every day
But soon a withering blast arose
and swept our beautious flower away

NAVIGATION

Writing, Documents, Letters, Poetry, Prose

Illustrated 1823 Night Before Christmas

All Henry Livingston's Poetry, All Clement Moore's Poetry Historical Articles About Authorship

Many Ways to Read Henry Livingston's Poetry

Arguments, Smoking Gun?, Reindeer Names, First Publication, Early Variants
Timeline Summary, Witness Letters, Quest to Prove Authorship, Scholars, Fiction

Book, Slideshow, Xmas, Writing, The Man, Work, Illos, Music, Genealogy, Bios, History, Games

Henry's Home

Mary's Home